Portia Roberson is photographed in a conference room at the Cadillac Tower in Detroit. / 2008 photo by MARY SCHROEDER/Detroit Free Press Pr

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Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

MARY SCHROEDER/Detroit Free Press

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The Detroit City Council approved Mayor Dave Bing’s pick for a new corporation counsel — the city’s top lawyer — on Tuesday but it unanimously rejected Bing’s bid to increase the position’s base salary to as much as $190,000.

Portia Roberson, an Obama administration Justice Department appointee, was Bing’s choice for the job, although it was unclear after Tuesday’s council meeting whether she would take the job without the Bing-proposed pay raise. The job currently pays $140,000 a year.

Roberson has another, higher-paying job offer on the table and makes more than $140,000 a year at her current job, Patrick Aquart, the city’s human resources director, told the council before it voted on the pay raise. Aquart also said Detroit’s corporation counsel salary is lower than other cities with a comparable population.

Council members, who interviewed Roberson last week and came away impressed with her ability to do the job, objected to the proposed pay raise for several reason including the city’s financial crisis and the fact that city workers’ pay and benefits have been cut.

“How do you justify that to someone who’s in the trenches doing the work every day?” Councilwoman Brenda Jones asked.

Edward Keelean has been the city’s interim corporation counsel since Bing, with the majority of council’s approval, fired Krystal Crittendon from the post in January. Crittendon, who remains with the law department and is running for mayor, had led a controversial challenge to a city consent agreement with the state. She also riled state officials who questioned her motives.

“The job pays what the job pays, for now,” Council President Charles Pugh said. “I hope that she will accept the position but if she doesn’t, then I understand.”

Roberson’s appointment is effective June 10, according to the resolution council approved Tuesday.

Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr has the final say on Roberson’s appointment. His spokesman said Tuesday that Orr is still reviewing it.

Bing’s office declined to comment on the appointment until it is finalized. Roberson could not be reached for comment.

Beyond the issue of Roberson’s potential salary, council members questioned how long she would be on the job considering a new mayor — Bing is not running for re-election — could appoint his or her own corporation counsel next year.